Do You Truly Need A Pocket Knife Sharpener: Benefits Of Owning One

Not to seem like Captain Obvious here, but the first benefit of owning a tool like this is, clearly, the ability to sharpen your knives anywhere and anytime.

Think about going away on a camping trip with friends and family; a pocket knife will probably be on the list of essentials to bring with you.

That means a pocket knife sharpener should be somewhere on that list, as well. When the number of blades you have at hand is limited, you need to make sure every single one of them is in top shape.

That’s where a pocket knife sharpener comes to play.

Keeping the edge of your blades sharp has one other significant role, which can be summed up in one word: safety. Contrary popular belief, a sharp knife is a safe knife – remember that the next time you’re in a situation that requires using a blade.

Oh, and one more thing:

Nothing makes you feel like a real man like being out in the wild and sharpening your knives. If that isn’t a benefit of owning a pocket knife sharpener, I don’t know what is.

The Ultimate Guide To Choosing The Best Pocket Knife Sharpener

Now, how exactly can you be sure you picked the best pocket knife sharpener?

I’m sure the market is filled with an infinite number of options, every single one of them advertised as the ultimate solution to your problems.

Don’t let these ads fool you; here’s what truly matters in a best pocket knife sharpener:

1. Choose The Right Material

The thing about pocket knife sharpeners is that they usually – well, the best of them do, anyway – offer a combination of at least two of these materials. You’ll see what I’m talking about when we move on to the actual reviews.

Carbide – Also known as tungsten carbide, this material should probably be one of your most important requirements when you’re trying to decide on a new pocket knife sharpener. Did you know that roughly speaking, tungsten carbide is twice as strong as steel? I think it’s pretty clear that, if you want fast results on even the dullest of blades, carbide sharpeners are your best option, period.

Ceramic – While you must’ve encountered ceramic before, were you aware that you can also add the knife sharpening feature to its list of recognized qualities, right beside durability and an (almost) unbreakable structure? Here, a gentle approach takes you a long way. The ceramic’s smooth surface has proved to be quite forgiving, and nowhere near as aggressive as the other two materials, resulting in an equally smooth and polished blade.

Diamond – If you’re looking for aggressive, you came to the right place – resetting an edge of your favorite blade is what these do best. Keep in mind that these sharpeners take off metal of your blades like it’s nobody’s business. For the sake of your blades, always make sure the situation truly calls for the use of a diamond sharpener.

2. Make Sure Your Pocket Knife Sharpener Is Actually Pocket-Size

You’d be surprised at how many knife sharpeners are advertised as pocket-size, but once you see them in person, you can’t help but wonder:

- "What kind of pockets are these people talking about here?"

What I’m trying to say is you have to pay attention to the actual dimension of the so-called pocket-size sharpener you want to buy.

The best pocket knife sharpener should sit comfortably in your hand while in use, and fit easily back to your pocket once you’re done – it’s as simple as that.

I would suggest you take out the clothes you typically wear when you’re going camping, and see how much “storage space” they have to offer.

Best Pocket Knife Sharpener - My Top Five Suggestions & Reviews 2019

The fact that it will set your budget back for less than $$ isn’t the only advantage worth mentioning. Since portability is the fundamental idea behind buying a pocket knife sharpener, you’ll be glad to learn that this is one of the lightest models out there. We’re talking less than an ounce here.

Another thing that I should mention is versatility. When you’re going on a camping trip, you need to have some very versatile pieces of equipment with you. That’s where this multifunctional pocket knife sharpener comes to play.

Suitable for both flat and serrated blades, this model features two V-shaped slots (carbide and ceramic), plus a diamond coated rod. Impressive, right?

Of course, such a low weight comes at a price. The sharpener feels quite flimsy while handled and didn’t promise much durability-wise. In that aspect, the plastic housing proved to be both an advantage, and a disadvantage at the same time.

Also, don’t expect extremely sharp blades with this pocket knife sharpener. It will do the job, that’s for sure, but it won’t leave you (or your edges, for that matter) impressed.

This model is an example of what you get when sturdiness meets versatility: the Lansky BladeMedic. There’s no denying that, at first glance, it seems somewhat similar to the Smith’s model I talked about previously, but there are some fundamental differences.

Enclosed in a full metal housing, four separate sharpening stones you can use - two of them are V-shaped slots (carbide and ceramic), one ceramic sharpener for serrated blades. Plus a diamond tapered rod.

Due to the use of metal, instead of plastic, the sharpener feels solid, and not at all flimsy. If you opt for this model, rest assured that breaking it won’t be an easy task. If you spend most of your time outside and need a versatile tool capable of keeping up with you, this is probably the best pocket knife sharpener for the job.

Now, remember what I said about those ounces piling up?

Well, this one is the perfect example of that – at 4 ounces, it’s easily the heaviest pocket knife sharpener on this list. I don’t know about you, but I don’t plan on carrying that around in my pocket anytime soon.

You’ll notice most of these resemble one another in their overall design; well, that’s undoubtedly not the case with Victorinox.

First off, I’d like to state the obvious: it looks more like a pen than an actual pocket knife sharpener. Not only does it fit comfortably in your pocket, but it seems nice, too.

Another excellent thing about it, and I haven’t noticed this in any of the other models on the list, is that the manufacturer paid attention to how your pockets might feel about having a sharpening stone in them.

Both the ceramic rod and the V-shaped slot are enclosed entirely inside the plastic housing – when you’re not using them, they’re safely stored inside it, which prevents them from potentially putting a hole in your favorite shirt.

And while there’s a lot of things I like about it, the fact that the clip is plastic, not metal, bothers me. Maybe that’s just me, but I always feel like it’s going to pop off at any moment.

While it wouldn’t impact the sharpener’s functionality in any way, I would be pretty bummed out if I lost it because of that.

Pros

The sharpening stones are enclosed

Easy to use and clean afterward

One of the most compact sharpeners on the market

The pocket clip makes it look more like a pen

It’s very lightweight, nice looking, and portable

Cons

With four different carbide V-shaped slots and an additional ceramic stone for those final touches, this is an excellent example of versatility. And by different slots, I mean they offer various angles – 17, 20, 25, and 30 degrees, depending on what type of blade you wish to sharpen.

No matter what type of blade you plan on sharpening with the Lansky QuadSharp – straight or serrated – you’ll be glad to know it’s more than capable of handling it.

How does it feel when handled, though?

The housing is metal, which, I think, tells you a lot about the overall feel of the tool; durability isn’t something you should worry about with this one.

Of course, there are always some less favorable features, as well. At 4 ounces it’s probably not considered the most lightweight option of all.

And if you’re more of a beginner in the field of sharpening knives, you’ll be kind of disappointed to learn that the sharpener doesn’t come with any instructions. Of course, you’ll be able to figure it out on your own, but not knowing how to use it might result in a damaged blade or, even worse, an injury.

If you’re looking for the best knife sharpener that could pass as nothing more than a keychain, this Wusthof model is the way to go, for sure.

Two of the most important qualities every pocket knife sharpener should have are small size, as well as low weight, and this one has them both. Weighing just 1.6 pounds, it’s the second most lightweight model on this list.

Remember what I said: Portability is key.

Of course, safety is another essential feature to consider, and, because it comes with not only textured grips, but rubber inserts on both sides, as well, shows that the manufacturer paid particular attention to these vital details.

Now, of course, there are some things I didn’t like, and I guess you won’t, either. For instance, you won’t be able to sharpen serrated blades on it, so keep that in mind before you opt for this particular model.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that, while it is capable of making a dull blade sharp again, the effect doesn’t seem to last very long. You’ll probably find yourself sharpening the same knife sooner than you initially thought you would.

Pros

Rubber inserts and a textured grip for safe handling

Labeled slots for quick recognition

It doesn’t take much to sharpen a blade

It’s incredibly lightweight and compact

It comes with a keychain

Cons

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Not suitable for serrated blades

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The edge doesn’t last very long

Final Verdict On The Best Pocket Knife Sharpener

So, which one of these is the best pocket knife sharpener on the market?

It’s entirely possible that I’m a bit biased since this is the one Barbara got me as a present (one of many) during the Holiday season.

All jokes aside, though, if you’re looking for an affordable, portable pocket knife sharpener to replace your high-end model while you're out in nature, one that looks and feels great, this is the way to go, for sure.

Barbara Whitney

For the last 20 years, I’ve been cooking, preparing, researching, and gathering recipes, tools, and knowledge about food and the way we prepare it. Raising two lively boys and spoiling one great husband later, it’s safe to say that I’ve optimized my kitchen to deliver the best possible meal, no matter the occasion.

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